The properties and crystallization of LiNbO3 in lithium niobophosphate glasses

Lithium niobophosphate glasses [(xNb(2)O(5) .(0.5 - x)P2O5). 0.5Li(2)O]:yFe(2)O(3) were studied using infrared spectroscopy and x-ray powder diffraction. The use of the two techniques gives new information about the structure of niobium phosphate glasses and glass ceramics. It was observed that under heat treatment phosphorus-oxygen groupings of different degrees of complexity, like LiPO3, Li4P2O7 and Li3PO4, were formed. Ferroelectric LiNbO3 crystals were also detected for x = 0.1 niobium content samples.